Tweezer implement and the like



y 22, 1945 E. A. NEUGASS 2,376,448

TWEEZER IMPLEMENT AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 27, 1943 [NV EN TOR.

EDWIN 9. NfUG IJS.

ATTOIQNE Y.

Patented May 22, 1945 UNI-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,376,448 'rwEnzEa IMPLEMENT Ann 'rm-z Lmn Edwin A. Neugass, Port Chester, N. Y.

Application September 27, 1943, Serial No. 503,899 1 Claim. (01.128-354) operator frequently cast shadows on the object,

hindering the illumination thereof. With the tweezers contemplated by this invention, the abov objections are overcome and many new advantages are obtained,

It is an object of the present invention to provide tweezers capable of piping light therethrough, thus making the same available in a darkened room for such conventional operations as plucking the eyebrows or picking-up objects.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide tweezers particularly useful in grasping small objects, such as, watch parts, splinters, hairs or foreign bodies, which are normally difficult to see, except under extreme illumination. 7

the object. thus focusing the attention of the operator directly on the obiect.

A pair of tweezers, forceps, pliers embodyin the invention maybe provided by attaching two members made of plastic material capable of I transmitting light from end to end, the two members being attached, pivoted or hinged together at one end; or by working a single piece of such plastic material, as to provide bifurcating members terminating in jaws. A source of light is applied to or concentrated upon the tweezers such as to efiect a transmission of lightrays through the said plastic members, the light being emitted at the free or jaw ends of the members. Where the tweezers are made from a single piece of plastic material, the resiliency of the material may be relied upon for the'closing and opening of the jaws. The tweezers may be employed to grip or grasp the desired object by compression or it may be first compressed, then inserted in the orifice of an object and made to engage the walls of the orifice by permitting the jaws to spreader expand.

It is a further object of the present invention to combine in tweezers the characteristics of light transmitting, as well as resiliency at the points of contact thereof with the hair or other object to be grasped, lifted or removed, thus preventing injury of the object grasped, and facilitating the gripping of the hair or like object for manipulation thereof.

The relatively soft plastic jaws prevent the cutting and weakening of small objects, such as, a

hair or splinter to be withdrawn from the skin. 1

The plastic jaws will tend to form themselves around the object rather than tweezing it between two flat surfaces which are tangent to it, giving a longer contact with the object.

Furthermore, economy of manufacture isefiected where the tweezers are made in one piece, requiring no plating or polishing.

A small amount of light directed toward the object worked upon is usually suillcient and eliminates the use of strong lights with attendant heat and eye strain. It is well recognized that for very fine work it is better to have a, darker background with a small light in contact with The tweezers may be used as a light emitting nasal speculum. This type of tweezers or pliers not only secures the retractor obtained by the blade portion of the speculum, but also emits light into the field of operation.

The natural resiliency of the plastic material used in the construction of the tweezers allows the same to open wider and close together with less terminal tension, which helps lessen the crushing forces on the object to be grasped. Where the tweezers are made with wide jaws of clear plastic, it will be possible to view the extent of the object grasped or the size or nature of the grasped object through the side walls of the tweezers.

Since plastics are non-magnetic, it becomes possible to use the tweezers in conjunction with magnets and yet retain their freedom of movement or motion, as the tweezers will not be attracted by'the magnet.

In surgical applications it is often necessary to use tweezers in conjunction with electrical instruments, such as, cauteries, high frequency useiul in removing shrapnel and other foreign bodies from wounds and because of their low power consumption may. be. well used in field hospitals during armed conflicts.

These and other objects and advantageous features of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrat ing certain embodiments of which the invention may be realized, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an instrument embodying the invention in one of its forms;

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a side view (partly broken away) of the device shown in Fig. 2, in operative position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken through line- 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken through line Fig. 6 illustrates the invention embodied in a modified form, shown partly in section;

Fig. 7 illustrates the invention embodied in a further modified form, shown partly in'section;

and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional detailed view taken through line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 10 represents a housing containing the conventional dry-cell battery (not seen). Connected to housing "I is a screw cap it encasing a light source, such as, an electric bulb l2, conventionally connected to the battery (not shown). Energization of bulb i2 is controlled by a conventional switch l3, which may be combined with a pocket clip I.

The parts heretofore mentioned are conventional and per se form no part of the invention.

A bushing 85 is secured to cap ll. Secured to bushing l5 is'a tweezer implement is made in one-piece and having bifurcations ll providing tweezer Jaws it.

The tweezers is are preferably made or formed of an organic plastic material capable of piping" light endwise, that is, material which has the characteristic of permitting light to pass therethrough from end to end and emitting same at the opposite end of the source. A material very suitable for the purpose intended comprises an organic plastic, for example, a, polymerized derivation of methacrylic acid, or methyl metacrylate plastic. This material embodies two characteristics which are desirable, namely, the piping of light and the resiliency required at the jaw portions to grip the hair or other objects without injury thereto.

This material is lighter than glass, is highly flexible, non-breakable, strong and durable and offers resistance to most chemicals and oxidation. It is readily formed into tweezers.

In the embodiment as shown in Fig. 1, light rays from the light source i2 enters the tweezers it at 20, passes in the direction of arrow 2i and divides at 22, a. portion of the light rays passing throiigh each of the bifurcations l'l, illuminating both tips l8, and passing therethrough upon the object being worked upon.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the hair H is securely gripped at 23 without its being crushed, the characteristic of the material being such that it will give at points of contact with the hair, thus also providing at the same time, greater gripping surface, in contact with the hair H 4 In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the tweezers 30 are provided with the bifurcations 3i having jaw end-portions 32. In this embodiment of the invention, a light-condenser lens 33 is provided at the end of the tweezers opporays Passing through the condenser lens 33,

body Ill and bifurcations II and eventually being emitted through the end of the laws 32.

In this embodiment of the invention, the tweezers l0 and lens 33 are made of a single solid piece of material.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 7 comprises tweezers 38 of similar construction to the one shown in Fig. 6, but the light collector lens 36 comprises a separate unit connected to the tweezers in any suitable manner, such as, for

example, a metal shell 31 having a frame portion 38 at one end for retaining lens 35 and the tweezers 38 have an undercut portion 38 into which is secured the other end 40 of the housing or shell 31.

In this embodiment of the invention, light rays indicated by the arrows 42 will enter chamber 43 through the condensing lens 35- in which chamber the light rays indicatedby the arrows 44 will be directed for concentration upon the surface ll of the tweezers 3B. These light rays will then pass through the bifurcations 45 to the jaw ends 46 from whence the rays of light will emit.

Although the drawing shows the application of a single source of light and a single light con- (lensing lens at the end of the tweezers, nippers or pincers where the branches or bifurcations are joined together, it is understood that the tweezers may comprise two separate or individual members joined together by spring or hinge means with a source of light or a light condensing lens disposed at an end of each member, so that each member may be provided with its own light source or lens.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention tweezers and the like in which the various objects hereinabove set forth, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention, and as many changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described. my invention. what is claimed as new, and what is desired to be as cured by Letters Patent, is:

A surgical appliance comprising in combination a gripping device having a pair of co-acting jaws, a handle adapted to receive, releasably, said device, a source of light positioned in said handle in proximity to and in alignment with, said pair of jaws, and means on said handle for controlling the energization of said source of light, said source of light being adapted to illuminate the ends of said jaws, said jaws comprising light-ray conductors made of organic transparent yieldable material imparting to said jaws the combined properties of gripp an object therebetween over an area thereof, of illuminating the space surrounding said object whereby the object may be viewed between said jaws, and of revealing through said jaws the object grasped therebetween, when said device is received by said handle and said source of light is ed.

energiz ED'WHI A. NEUGASS. 

